Elira explains the intention for us to attend all the events for the royal announcement proceedings, and that we will be getting publicly recognized before the reception this evening for resolving the demon crisis. She also mentions that we are implicated in the official announcement, so we will be attending the nobles' second meeting tomorrow.
"Finally, and in recognition for their service to our kingdom, I plan to give Lady Nedonera and every member of her party a royal crest that permits their ongoing travel within our country. Jorah, before you ask, yes, that includes Mizuki." (Elira)
What!? That's news to me as well! Every noble seems equally surprised as me.
"My Queen, I hope you'll reconsider this. Lady Nedonera openly admitted to nearly murdering an elven noble without remorse. Also, while you may feel that Mizuki himself is trustworthy, the precedent of letting a human roam freely in our country with royal approval carries its own dangers." (Tessa)
"I confess that I wanted to murder Jorah over his idiotic behavior, too, and I also would have felt little remorse over it. Lady Nedonera's confession only convinces me of her honesty, not her hostility." (Helena)
There are a few stray chuckles over Helena's comment, but Jorah looks livid. However, he glances at Nina nervously and remains quiet.
"Tessa, what alternative would you suggest? Surely you don't expect me to just give them nothing and deport them after such a considerable service to our country, and a history of only kind actions towards elves. They have no need for money, and I'm assuming that granting them citizenships or land would be even more disagreeable to you." (Elira)
"Regardless of whether they need it, money is an acceptable form of compensation for services, even great ones. Grant them that, then after the royal announcement is over, let them return to their homes peacefully with our thanks." (Tessa)
"Fufufu…I'm not sure what the compensation should be, Tessa, but I can assure you that its usefulness to them is incredibly relevant. If you saved my daughter's life and I offered you a warehouse full of crap, you wouldn't deem it adequate compensation just because I said dung beetles appreciate it. Your rationale with money may be no different to an Elder Dragon." (Helena)
Helena Izthil might rival Alto as the funniest elf I've ever met. Honestly, I'd love to be on good terms with her just for the entertainment value.
Tessa seems much less amused than me, however, and bickering soon breaks out among the nobles. Cara Egris seems to be the only one abstaining, and she's eyeing me curiously. After nearly twenty minutes of debate among the nobles, she finally speaks up.
"Could everyone quit arguing like children, please?" (Cara)
Her sudden admonishment draws surprised gazes from everyone in the room, and Jorah and Tessa look plainly irritated. Cara ignores them, however, and continues.
"Mizuki, since this whole debate is effectively about you, why don't you give us your opinion on how we should handle it?" (Cara)
I'm sure the surprise shows on my face because Cara looks pleased with herself at my response. What angle is she playing?
The other nobles look at me expectantly, and nobody seems to be objecting to hearing my opinion. I groan internally, then step forward with a polite smile and bow.
"Of course, Lady Cara. If the Queen's ruling is insufficient for the nobles, then put it to a vote. After all, surely none of you would disregard the Queen and a majority vote of the other nobles, that'd effectively be a coup. If at least three nobles vote to support the Queen's decision, enact it. If not, then I'm sure Lady Nedonera would allow substitution with an S-rank support letter for my adventuring guild party, and we'll just depart after the royal announcement. I personally have no desire to force my presence where it isn't wanted." (Mizuki)
Cara looks surprised, and she begins studying my face intently. Was she expecting a different answer? Elira seems to go pale, probably because she knows that if I leave their kingdom over this vote, Ilina will come with me and my obligation to them will lessen.
"M-Mizuki, are you sure that's the wisest course…" (Elira)
"Well, I think that's a great idea hu…err, Mizuki! I believe we can all agree that if they're willing to leave with a note that doesn't affect us, that's the safest course of action. Shall we vote now?" (Jorah)
Jorah responds so soon after her that he practically interrupts Elira. I see he found it wise to use my name this time, though, and that's amusing to me.
In response to Jorah's vote call, there is assent from Tessa, but Cara interrupts any further communication on the matter. She is glancing between Elira and me, and she wears an expression that's a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Just a moment. Before we vote, I'd like to ask Mizuki some questions. Mizuki, how do you expect this vote to go?" (Cara)
That's…a strange question. Cara continues gazing at me expectantly, and nobody objects to her questions. I guess I've got to respond.
"Hmm…that's difficult to say, Lady Cara. If there were any apparent consequences to voting against the Queen, like angering my Lady, I think you'd vote 3-2 in favor of supporting the Queen's decision. Lady Helena, Lord Darak, and especially yourself seem ambivalent towards me at worst. However, since we've volunteered to leave peacefully, I think you three would only vote to support the Queen's decision due to personal pressures. I don't know you well enough to discern that, so I could see the vote going either way." (Mizuki)
"Even if that's all true, it should be obvious to you that Lady Helena wouldn't let personal reasons affect her vote. So, shouldn't that knowledge alone make a vote against the Queen's decision more likely?" (Cara)
Cara is eyeing me carefully, and I think I'm starting to see where this is going. I sigh before responding.
"Yes, naturally I'd agree with that assessment." (Mizuki)
Cara nods to herself, like she's confirmed something. Everyone else looks puzzled.
"May I ask why you're so confident that Helena, Darak, and especially I have no inclinations against you? We may be polite to you compared to Jorah, but so is Tessa. I'll have you know that I advise against opening the kingdom to human travelers whenever it's discussed." (Cara)
The two other 'ambivalent' nobles nod subtly, as if acknowledging that Cara is expressing the reason for their own confusion.
"Even I would advise against such a policy change. So, that only proves your sound judgement, Lady Cara, not your bias. My confidence is from your decisions and justifications today – they were earnest and rational, which would not be possible if you shared the typical elven bias against humans. Lady Tessa is quite polite, which I respect, but it's also obvious what her true feelings towards me are, and that they are motivated in part by my race. Unlike you three, she is partial to applying human generalizations to me, despite contrary evidence." (Mizuki)
There are several surprised glances around the table, but nobody denies it. Not even Tessa. Cara looks at me thoughtfully.
"Earlier you said there were no apparent consequences to rejecting your access to our country. Are there consequences that we aren't aware of?" (Cara)
Oh…she's a perceptive one. I can't give her the complete truth, though. I shrug before responding.
"Who's to say…I can't know the future. I can tell you that neither Lady Nedonera nor I would hold a grudge over such a decision, though. We have no intention of unprovoked hostility towards the Elven Kingdom, regardless of your votes." (Mizuki)
Cara looks at me skeptically for a moment, then sighs in frustration.
"Somehow, the future feels more known to you than to me right now, but so be it. Great Dragon, if we were to reject the Queen's proposal and your access to our country…what would you do if we asked for your aid with a later crisis?" (Cara)
"Fufufu…if Mizuki were interested in aiding you, then I'd consider it, but I'd reject any monetary compensation up front. I'd only be interested in something that we'd have use for. So, this scenario would not be unfolding again." (Nina)
Cara grimaces and continues.
"Hmm…one final question, Mizuki. I can't help but get the feeling that you couldn't care less about how we vote, and Lady Nedonera is completely deferring to you. If I'm right, that would make Queen Elira's adamant support of this specific reward even more confusing. You said you'd have advised against opening our borders to humans. Tell me, how would you advise this decision in my place, knowing what you do?" (Cara)
Cara looks at me expectantly, but without anticipation, like she's only asking to make a point to the others. She's fun…I kind of like playing this game. I hang my head and chuckle out loud, and it solicits quite a few confused gazes.
"Fufufufu…me answering your rhetorical question won't sway your fellow nobles, Lady Cara. I do hope we get to chat more this evening, though. Your non-rhetorical questions are quite intriguing." (Mizuki)
Cara clicks her tongue and smirks at me in response, but I can tell that she's troubled internally. She turns to face the other nobles again.
"Okay, I'm ready. My advice is that we offer Lady Nedonera and her current party a section of land in the undeveloped western region of the kingdom, and we allow them to live there permanently. This would be in addition to the royal travel crests, the S-rank endorsement, and even monetary compensation if they wanted it. However, I'm sure Mizuki is correct and none of that will be approved, so my official vote is to uphold the Queen's decision." (Cara)
Elira, Darak, and Helena are stunned silent, and Jorah and Tessa let out audible squeals of disbelief. Alto and even Nina are shocked.
[Mizuki!? Is that where the hot spring I like is!?] (Nina)
[Fufufu…yes, I think that's correct. Don't get your hopes up, though, there's no way that's getting approved at this meeting.] (Mizuki)
I sense disappointment from Nina, and I stop myself from laughing. Some of the nobles have recovered enough to start expressing their opinions.
"That's preposterous! Have you lost your mind, Cara!?" (Jorah)
"Youth and inexperience can only excuse so much, Cara. I hope you don't always make decisions for your house so flippantly, or the Egris's may fail to weather the test of time." (Tessa)
Darak is observing Cara curiously, with an amused smile. Helena just looks deep in thought and is the next to speak.
"Cara, I have a lot more respect for your intelligence than Tessa and Jorah, so I don't take that statement lightly. Still…your suggestion seems unnecessarily drastic. May I ask why you'd propose such a thing?" (Helena)
Cara nods solemnly.
"My official justification is that it's for long-term security. It should be obvious to anyone listening that Lady Nedonera would never aid us again without travel access to our country. However, even that is a temporary measure. I suspect that when Mizuki dies in a few short decades, even that would not warrant her aid. If she considered our region of the continent her and Mizuki's home, however, I think she'd be inclined to protect it indefinitely even after he's gone." (Cara)
Even if it's based on flawed information, that's a damn good argument. Helena's brow furrows in thought for a few moments.
"I think that's a reasonable justification, though I'm not sure the risk is worth the reward. Lady Nedonera wouldn't be hostile, and we've never needed her protection before. There is also the people's reaction to think of. However, I have other questions about your response. You said that was your official justification…is there another one?" (Helena)
Cara nervously glances at Nina and me, and she seems to hesitate for a few moments. In that time, Darak interjects with a good-natured chuckle.
"Fufufu…it's bothering you, too, right Cara? All the unexplained behaviors. Why Lady Nedonera and Alto are so deferential to Mizuki, and why he seems less interested in them being here than everyone else. Also, why is Mizuki so nonchalant about everything, even watching two Elder Dragons fight? Your instincts are screaming that rebuking a close relationship with them would cause you regret later, right?" (Darak)
Cara nods solemnly, and this seems to set Jorah off.
"If you're that scared of them, that's even more reason to cut ties!" (Jorah)
"Tch…that's not the issue here, Jorah. I don't think that they are a threat to us. In fact, I'm confident that's not the case. My concern is more like we're exiling the farmers before a food shortage. I think we'd regret not befriending them. However, I can't give you a definite reason for that, as Darak inferred." (Cara)
A brief silence falls over the nobles, and they keep glancing at Nina and me curiously. Eventually, Darak breaks the silence.
"For what it's worth, I agree with you Cara. My instincts are telling me the same thing. However, there's no reason to rush such drastic measures. I suggest that we vote on the royal travel crests as planned, and if necessary, have another meeting at the end of the royal announcement to discuss any further access to our country. I suspect that there are many important things to learn in the coming days. Queen Elira, would you agree with my assessment?" (Darak)
Elira smiles wryly at Darak.
"Yes, I agree that there's no reason to rush offering more than these so-called royal travel crests. Though, I'd approve of Cara's proposal right now if most of you were swayed." (Elira)
Tessa and Jorah raise their eyebrows at Elira's second comment, but Darak continues before they can speak.
"Great! In that case, I vote to grant the royal travel crests. With Cara, that makes two. Are there any other votes to the same effect?" (Darak)
Darak phrases the question openly, but he's just staring at Helena with a smirk. She sighs deeply and directs an annoyed expression at him.
"Tch…you're as smug as ever, old man. You knew my vote the minute I heard that Cara and you reached the same conclusion independently. I also vote to approve the royal travel crests." (Helena)
Jorah's face is like he's watching his house be robbed live on camera, and Tessa looks similarly frustrated. However, Elira has already moved on.
"Wonderful! Then, per your own internal agreement, I'm making my decision final. Lady Nedonera and her party will be granted the royal travel crests this evening during their public recognition before the reception. That resolves all matters related to this meeting, so I'm considering this meeting adjourned. You're welcome to satisfy any other curiosities about Lady Nedonera or her party members by talking with them at the reception." (Elira)
Elira and a few others in the room nod and prepare to leave, but Jorah has a sudden outburst.
"Wait, this is ridiculous! I'd like to make my disapproval abundantly…" (Jorah)
Surprisingly, Tessa is the one to cut him off.
"Quiet, Jorah! Know your place!" (Tessa)
Jorah looks surprised, and tries to protest to her quietly, but she ignores him.
"You're the one who was foolish enough to champion this vote, so you need to accept the outcome. We're not animals, we're elves. We have laws and a Queen, and she has spoken in accordance with them. Her decision is final." (Tessa)
Jorah hangs his head dejectedly and nods his agreement. Tessa is just staring at me intently.
"Besides, there are much bigger concerns that lie in the future, not the past. I suggest you focus your attention on those." (Tessa)
Yeah…she's talking about me for sure. I really don't want another Alara situation on my hands. I sigh deeply.